How Thai Firmshould prepare Translator

when doing Businesswith Japanese Firm

Matumit Sombunjaroen

2015/05/08

Origin of the Story

During a Business meeting,there was a case of inefficiency in translation departmentthat lead to the talk being fall out.

The Purpose of this Slide

Is to give preliminary guidelineson what to preparewhen dealing with Japanese Firm

First thing to know

Although it is common for Management and above people on the Thai sideto be able to use Business level English,The same do not apply on the Japanese side

How do you do?(with accent)

Hello,Mai ne-mu isu

[……….]

A Common Myth

To be honest, I don’t know where this came from, but let just say that there is absolutely no ground in this.

“It’s because Japanese are Nationalist”(Japanese will only use Japanese stuffs)

A Proof

Apple Products (American)Coconut Oils (SEA)do sell in Japan

Possible Reason

To make a simple explanation,It’s because Korean politicians makeJapanese hate Korean Product

A case when Samsung Products sold well worldwide except in Japan

Anyhow

Knowing only English is not enough when dealing with Japanese Business Firm

TranslatorTranslator

Give me 150 Baht?

Give me Five Dollar?

Give me Five!Gimme Some?少し頂こう？

Translator

NammanMaprao

Coconut Oils

The Ideal

This will reduce Hiring Costand reduce Communication Error

ココナッツオイル

To Hire a Translator

It is better to ask forQualification Proofs

Ideal Qualification

PositionJapanese Language

Proficiency Test(JLPT)

Business JapaneseProficiency Test

(BJT)

Lead Translator N1 +1year work experience

J1+ +1year work experience

Local Support N2-N1 J2-J1

Case1

Japanese firm will send personnel who can speak Thai to take Managerial position

Local Firm is a subsidiary of Japanese Firm

Case2

Japanese firm will hirelocal who is proficient in Japanese as

supportJLT N2 or above is recommended

Local Firm is a subsidiary of Japanese Firm

Case3

Local Firm is expected to have a TranslatorWith High Language Proficiency

JLT N1+work Experience is recommended

Local Firm is a Business Partner

Warning

Local Firm with Internal TranslatorHave more credential

ExternalTranslator

InternalTranslator

This firm doesn’t seem to have much experience in dealing with

Japanese business

This is good,We can check directly on how

the stuffs are going

In a case of highly specialized topic

Go for the one withHigher Language Proficiency

If there are these 2 options to choose from

Highly ProficientTranslator

Lack of KnowledgeOn the Topic

Can use Daily Japanese

ExpertOn the Topic

The Reason

If the translator lack proficiency,There is a really low chance that he will

understand specialized vocabulary

Jigsaw?実装

Can use Daily Japanese

Jissou?

Highly ProficientTranslator

On the other Hand

A proficient Translator can do explanation in lower common language

Oh,Implementation

!

実装(Explanation) Explanation

To summarize things

If you have plan to deal Business with Japanese Firm,

It is better to hire an internal staff who is highly proficient in Japanese

And finally

To the Local Firmthat I failed to mentioned this,

I would like to sincerely apologizedFor not doing so